High expectations for Zanu PF govt

HARARE - War veterans say they are expecting better living conditions under a Zanu PF-led government following the inauguration of President Robert Mugabe on Thursday.

Jabulani Sibanda the leader of the country’s liberation war heroes, told the Daily News on Thursday that Mugabe’s 61-percent victory was the beginning of a better future for living war liberators, as his party has pro-poor policies.

“This victory is a victory for us and our children. It is a victory for you the youths, you must celebrate because your future is now clear,” Sibanda said.

“We as war veterans, we are happy that finally the West have been defeated and it time that we start to reap the gains of the liberation struggle. We are looking forward to a better living for our members and the generality of Zimbabweans,” he said.

War veterans and military officials are believed to be the powers behind Mugabe’s resounding election victory.

MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai, has accused the war liberators — particularly its leader Sibanda, of intimidating villagers to vote for Zanu PF.

The MDC — after losing in the July 31 poll, said war veterans and soldiers terrorised its supporters in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces to ensure that Zanu PF got a resonant win in the two provinces which were once dominated by the party.

But according to Sibanda, the MDC lost the elections due to its “anti-people policies” which were at variance with Zanu PF’s indigenisation guiding principle.

“The MDC failed to bring out policies that aligned with the people. This election was not about persons, but policies and strategies,” he said.

“Morgan Tsvangirai has the ability to be a powerful person, but he must just not be an imperialist and he should know he is a Zimbabwean first,” Sibanda said.

“This election was not about personalities, it was not about Mugabe vs Tsvangirai, it was about policies that benefit the people most,” he said.

Fortune Charumbira, president of the Chiefs council, another institution believed to have helped Mugabe get the “sweet-last victory” said they expected more recognition from the Zanu PF government.

“We as chiefs are very excited about this day. We feel we have been vindicated by the people’s decision to go back to the party that brought our independence,” he said.

“The MDC should now move on and look to the future. This inauguration has been blessed by God and our traditional chiefs, you can’t continue fighting what the lord has blessed and given to the people of Zimbabwe,” Charumbira said.

“He (Tsvangirai) failed to convince the people of Zimbabwe to support him. We just hope that Zanu PF will deliver what they promised the people of Zimbabwe. We hope that the people’s well-being will be improved.”
Dexter Nduna, a Zanu PF newly-elected lawmaker said employment creation and economic growth will be the party’s main agenda in the coming five years.

“We promised jobs to the people and we must deliver. The president has just given us the task to deliver that to the people who gave the party the mandate,” he said.

Francis Mukwangwariva — an incoming law-maker from Zanu PF said the stakes were high for the new government, due to high expectations from the people.

“Zimbabweans should be happy because the president has laid down the future, we want nothing short of delivery and we are going to do it,” he said.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikonga Kaseke, said Mugabe’s inauguration had paved way for new investment into the sector, which he said failed to perform during the last four years.

“The sector is going to grow in the coming two years, we are happy because this is a government we have been waiting for,” he said.

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